Definition of Elastomers
Answers
a natural or synthetic polymer having elastic properties, e.g. rubber.
n elastomer is a polymer with viscoelasticity (having both viscosity and elasticity) and very weak inter-molecular forces, generally having low Young's modulus and high failure strain compared with other materials.[ The term, which is derived from elastic polymer, is often used interchangeably with the term rubber, although the latter is preferred when referring to vulcanisates. Each of the monomers which link to form the polymer is usually made of carbon, hydrogen, oxygen or silicon. Elastomers are amorphous polymers existing above their glass transition temperature, so that considerable segmental motion is possible. At ambient temperatures, rubbers are thus relatively soft (E~3MPa) and deformable. Their primary uses are for seals, adhesives and molded flexible parts. Application areas for different types of rubber are manifold and cover segments as diverse as tires, shoe soles, and damping and insulating elements. The importance of rubbers can be judged from the fact that global revenues are forecast to rise to US$56 billion in 2020.[not in citation given]
IUPAC definitionPolymer that displays rubber-like elasticity.Rubber like solids with elastic properties are called elastomers. Polymer chains are held together in elastomers by weakest intermolecular forces. This weak binding forces permit the polymers to be stretched. Natural rubber, neoprene rubber, buna-s and buna-n are elastomers.